Earthship Biotecture: The Ultimate in Natural, Sustainable Building

Earthship Biotecture is a design/construction firm out of Taos, New Mexico. According to their website, “An Earthship is a radically sustainable home made of recycled materials.” The concept was developed by architect Mike Reynolds – the story of his struggle and success was documented in the film, Garbage Warrior.

Earthship Biotecture follows 9 design principles:

Electricity comes from sun and wind.

Water comes from rain and snow.

Sewage is contained, used, and reused through greywater and blackwater treatment systems.

Heating and Cooling come from the sun and earth.

Food is grown inside and outside.

Building is done with Natural and Recycled Materials.

The most prominent features of Earthship Biotecture are the profligate use of recycled glass and aluminum bottles, and old car tires.

Earthships can be built in any part of the world, in any climate, and still provide you with what you need to survive, with “modern amenities”, if desired.

At the headquarters of Earthship Biotecture in Taos lies the Greater World Earthship Community, a community of about 200 people living in independent homes. Their focus is on less stressful housing and lifestyles, interfacing of economics and ecology, and the empowerment of individuals with the “inarguable forces of nature”. It is an intentional sustainable community.